The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
BILL: SB 1440
INTRODUCER: Senator Book
SUBJECT: Court Proceedings
DATE: April 3, 2023
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Davis Cibula JU Favorable
2. Tuszynski Cox CF Favorable
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 1440 amends several statutes to authorize the use of audio-video communication technology
in dependency and delinquency proceedings. This technology allows people to appear in
proceedings remotely, rather than in person. When a court authorizes someone to appear
remotely, he or she must receive instructions for the use of the technology.
The bill also requires each party in a dependency case to provide a primary e-mail address that,
in addition to a permanent mailing address, will be used by the court for notice purposes.
The bill is based on procedures for using audio-video technology that were used by the state
court system during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The bill takes effect upon becoming a law.
II. Present Situation:
To help ensure public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, state courts limited in-
person appearances to essential matters before the trial courts. The courts authorized many court
proceedings to be conducted remotely, rather than in person, which allowed attorneys and parties
to appear by using video or audio technology.
1
1
The Supreme Court of Florida, In Re: Amendment to Florida Rules of Juvenile Procedure, Florida Family Law Rules of
Procedure, and Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Forms (July 14, 2022), available at
https://casetext.com/case/in-re-amendments-to-fla-rules-of-juvenile-procedure-9151 (last visited on April 1, 2023).
REVISED: BILL: SB 1440 Page 2
A workgroup
2
was established by the Florida Supreme Court to study whether certain remote
proceedings, which produced effective results, should continue after the COVID-19 epidemic.
The workgroup concluded “that permanent, broader authorization for remote proceedings was
warranted” due to the positive results that were observed during the pandemic. Additional court-
appointed committees having subject matter expertise made recommendations to the Court to
amend court rules and authorize remote proceedings. The Court adopted the proposed
amendments on July 14, 2022.
3
Florida’s Child Welfare System - Generally
Chapter 39, F.S., creates Florida’s dependency system that is charged with protecting the welfare
of children; this system is often referred to as the “child welfare system.” The DCF Office of
Child and Family Well-Being works in partnership with local communities and the courts to
ensure the safety, timely permanency, and well-being of children.
Child welfare services are directed toward the prevention of abandonment,
4
abuse,
5
and neglect
6
of children.
7
The DCF practice model is based on the safety of the child within his or her home,
using in-home services such as parenting coaching and counseling to maintain and strengthen
that child’s natural supports in his or her home environment. Such services are coordinated by
the DCF-contracted community-based care lead agencies (CBC).
8
The DCF remains responsible
for a number of child welfare functions, including operating the central abuse hotline,
performing child protective investigations, and providing children’s legal services.
9
Ultimately,
2
The workgroup was officially named the “Workgroup on the Continuity of Court Operations and Proceedings During and
After COVID-19.”
3
The Supreme Court of Florida, supra note 1.
4
Section 39.01(1), F.S., defined to mean a situation in which the parent or legal custodian of a child or, in the absence of a
parent or legal custodian, the caregiver, while being able, has made no significant contribution to the child’s care and
maintenance or has failed to establish or maintain a substantial and positive relationship with the child, or both. For purposes
of this subsection, “establish or maintain a substantial and positive relationship” includes, but is not limited to, frequent and
regular contact with the child through frequent and regular visitation or frequent and regular communication to or with the
child, and the exercise of parental rights and responsibilities. Marginal efforts and incidental or token visits or
communications are not sufficient to establish or maintain a substantial and positive relationship with a child
5
Section 39.01(2), F.S., defined to mean any willful act or threatened act that results in any physical, mental, or sexual abuse,
injury, or harm that causes or is likely to cause the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired.
Abuse of a child includes the birth of a new child into a family during the course of an open dependency case when the parent
or caregiver has been determined to lack the protective capacity to safely care for the children in the home and has not
substantially complied with the case plan towards successful reunification or met the conditions for return of the children into
the home. Abuse of a child includes acts or omissions. Corporal discipline of a child by a parent or legal custodian for
disciplinary purposes does not in itself constitute abuse when it does not result in harm to the child.
6
See s. 39.01(50), F.S., defined, in part, to mean when a child is deprived of, or is allowed to be deprived of, necessary food,
clothing, shelter, or medical treatment or a child is permitted to live in an environment when such deprivation or environment
causes the child’s physical, mental, or emotional health to be significantly impaired or to be in danger of being significantly
impaired.
7
Section 39.001(8), F.S.
8
Section 409.986(1), F.S.; See generally The Department of Children and Families (The DCF), About Community-Based
Care, available at https://www.myflfamilies.com/services/child-family/child-and-family-well-being/community-based-
care/about-community-based-care (last viewed March 29, 2023).
9
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, Child Welfare System Performance Mixed in First Year
of Statewide Community-Based Care, Report 06-50, June 2006, p. 2, available at
https://oppaga.fl.gov/Documents/Reports/06-50.pdf (last viewed March 29, 2023). BILL: SB 1440 Page 3
the DCF is responsible for program oversight and the overall performance of the child welfare
system.
10
Department of Children and Families
The DCF’s statutory mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the
vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and
family recovery and resiliency.
11
The DCF must develop a strategic plan to fulfill this mission
and establish measurable goals, objectives, performance standards, and quality assurance
requirements to ensure the DCF is accountable to taxpayers.
12
The DCF is required to provide services relating to:
Adult protection.
Child care regulation.
Child welfare.
Domestic violence.
Economic self-sufficiency.
Homelessness.
Mental health.
Refugees.
Substance abuse.
13
The DCF must also deliver services by contract through private providers to the extent allowed
by law and funding.
14
These private providers include CBCs delivering child welfare services
and managing entities (MEs) delivering behavioral health services.
15
Dependency Case Process
When child welfare necessitates that the DCF remove a child from the home to ensure his or her
safety, a series of dependency court proceedings must occur to place that child in an out-of-home
placement, adjudicate the child dependent, and, if necessary, terminate parental rights and free
that child for adoption. Steps in the dependency process usually include:
A report to the Florida Abuse Hotline.
A child protective investigation to determine the safety of the child.
The court finding the child dependent.
Case planning for the parents to address the problems resulting in their child’s dependency.
Placement in out-of-home care, if necessary.
Reunification with the child’s parent or another option to establish permanency, such as
adoption after termination of parental rights.
16
10
Id.
11
Section 20.19(1)(a), F.S.
12
Section 20.19(1)(b), F.S.
13
Section 20.19(4)(a), F.S.,
14
Section 20.19(1)(c), F.S.
15
Part V of ch. 409, F.S., and s. 394.9082, F.S.
16
The state has a compelling interest in providing stable and permanent homes for adoptive children in a prompt manner, in
preventing the disruption of adoptive placements, and in holding parents accountable for meeting the needs of children.
Section 63.022, F.S. BILL: SB 1440 Page 4
Dependency
Proceeding
Description of Process
Controlling
Statute(s)
Removal
The DCF may remove a child from his or her home after a
protective investigation determines that conditions in that
child’s home are unsafe and a safety plan cannot make the
conditions safe.
s. 39.401, F.S.
Shelter Hearing
The court must hold a shelter hearing within 24 hours after
removal. At this hearing, the judge determines whether there
was probable cause to remove the child and whether to keep
the child out-of-home.
s. 39.401, F.S.
Petition for
Dependency
The DCF must file a petition for dependency within 21 days of
the shelter hearing. This petition seeks to find the child
dependent.
s. 39.501, F.S.
Arraignment
Hearing and
Shelter Review
The court must hold an arraignment and shelter review
within 28 days of the shelter hearing. The hearing allows the
parent to admit, deny, or consent to the allegations within
the petition for dependency and allows the court to review
any previous shelter placement.
s. 39.506, F.S.
Adjudicatory
Trial
The court must hold an adjudicatory trial within 30 days of
arraignment. The judge determines whether a child is
dependent during this trial.
s. 39.507, F.S.
Disposition
Hearing
The court must hold a disposition hearing within 15 days of
arraignment (if the parents admits or consents to
adjudication) or 30 days of adjudication if a court finds the
child dependent. At this hearing, the judge reviews the case
plan and placement of the child and orders the case plan and
the appropriate placement of the child.
s. 39.506, F.S.
s. 39.521, F.S.
Postdisposition
Change of
Custody Hearing
The court may change the temporary out-of-home placement
of a child at a postdisposition hearing any time after
disposition but before the child is residing in the permanent
placement approved at a permanency hearing.
s. 39.522, F.S.
Judicial Review
Hearings
The court must review the case plan and placement at least
every 6 months, or upon motion of a party.
s. 39.701, F.S.
Petition for
Termination of
Parental Rights
If the DCF determines that reunification is no longer a viable
goal and termination of parental rights is in the best interest
of the child, and other requirements are met, a petition for
termination of parental rights is filed.
s. 39.802, F.S.
s. 39.8055, F.S.
s. 39.806, F.S.
s. 39.810, F.S.
Advisory Hearing
The court must hold an advisory hearing as soon as possible
after all parties have been served with the petition for
termination of parental rights. The hearing allows the parent
to admit, deny, or consent to the allegations within the
petition for termination of parental rights.
s. 39.808, F.S. BILL: SB 1440 Page 5
Dependency
Proceeding
Description of Process
Controlling
Statute(s)
Adjudicatory
Hearing
The court must hold an adjudicatory trial within 45 days after
the advisory hearing. The judge determines whether to
terminate parental rights to the child at this trial.
s. 39.809, F.S.
Chapter 92, F.S., governs witness, records, and documents. Chapter 985, F.S., governs juvenile
justice proceedings. These chapters have not been updated to permit the use of audio-video
technology or provide e-mail addresses for receiving correspondence from the courts.
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill amends several statutes in ch. 39, F.S., to authorize the use of audio-video
communication technology. When audio-video communication is permitted, instructions for its
use must also be provided. The bill requires parties to provide a primary e-mail address in
addition to a permanent mailing address for the court to use in contacting the party. However, the
court may excuse a party from this requirement to provide an e-mail address if good cause is
shown, but must excuse the party from providing the e-mail address if the party is incarcerated
and is not represented by an attorney.
Section 1 – Section 39.013(13), F.S., - Dependency Jurisdiction and Procedures
Section 39.013, F.S., sets forth jurisdiction requirements and the general procedures that govern
dependency cases. A new subsection is added which specifies that an individual’s appearance or
attendance at dependency proceedings may be made through physical appearance or attendance
or, at the court’s discretion, through audio-video communication technology, unless the court
determines that it is inconsistent with the U. S. Constitution, the State Constitution, a statute, a
rule of court, or a court order.
Section 2 – Section 39.0131, F. S. – Permanent Mailing and Primary E-mail Address
Designation
Section 39.0131, F.S., requires each party in a dependency action, upon first appearance before
the court, to provide a permanent mailing address which will be used for notice purposes. New
language is added that also requires a party to provide a primary e-mail address. However, the
court may excuse a party from providing an e-mail address for good cause shown. The court
must excuse a party from providing an e-mail address if he or she is incarcerated and not
represented by an attorney.
Section 3 – Section 39.402(16), F.S., Shelter Placements
Section 39.402, F.S., sets forth the procedures that must be followed when a child is being placed
into a shelter. “Shelter” means a placement with a relative or a nonrelative, or in a licensed home
of facility, for the temporary care of a child who is alleged to be or who has been found to be
dependent.
17
Section 39.402(16), F.S., states that at the conclusion of a shelter hearing, the court
17
Section 39.01(78), F.S. BILL: SB 1440 Page 6
must notify all parties in writing of the next scheduled hearing to review the shelter placement.
This provision is amended to provide that, if the next hearing will be held using audio-video
communication technology, the written notice must include all relevant information that is
needed to attend the proceeding.
Section 4 – Section 39.502(1), (4), (5), (18), and (19), F.S. – Notice, Process, and Service to
Parents in Dependency Matters
Section 39.502(1), F.S.
Section 39.502, F.S., outlines the requirements for providing notice, process, and service of
dependency petitions.
18
Unless parental rights have been terminated, parents must be notified of
all proceedings or hearings involving their child. This statute is amended to authorize a party to
consent to service or notice by e-mail by giving a primary e-mail address to the clerk of court.
Section 39.502(4), F.S.
This statute is amended to provide that, when a summons is issued notifying the person to appear
for a hearing, if audio-video communication technology is applicable, the summons must also
include instructions for appearing at the hearing through the use of the audio-video
communication technology.
Section 39.502(5), F.S.
This subsection is amended to allow a party to consent to service by e-mail by providing a
primary e-mail address to the clerk of the court.
Section 39.502(18), F.S.
At the conclusion of any hearing, the court must provide the parent or legal custodian of the child
a written notice containing the date of the next scheduled hearing. This provision is amended to
provide that, if the hearing is going to be conducted through audio-video communication
technology, the instructions for an appearance must also be included.
Section 39.502(19), F.S.
The attorney for the Department of Children and Families is required to provide oral or written
notice to a relative who requests notification of the date, time, and location of the proceeding and
hearings. This statute is amended to state that, if applicable, the attorney must provide relatives
with instructions for appearance through audio-video communication technology.
Section 5 – Section 39.506(3) and (4), F.S. – Arraignment Hearings
Section 39.506(3), F.S., states that, if a person served with notice does not “personally” appear at
an arraignment hearing, he or she consents to a dependency adjudication. The document
containing the notice to respond or appear must contain language stating that their failure to
“personally” appear at the arraignment hearing constitutes consent to the adjudication of the
18
A dependency petition is filed by the Department of Children and Families to initiate proceedings to determine whether a
child is dependent. Section 39.501, F.S. BILL: SB 1440 Page 7
child or children as dependent and may ultimately result in the loss of custody of the child or
children. If a person appears for an arraignment hearing and the court orders that person to
“personally” appear at the adjudicatory hearing for dependency, then the failure to appear for the
adjudicatory hearing constitutes consent to a dependency adjudication.
This provision is amended to delete references to “personally” appear and permits an appearance
either physically or through audio-video communication technology. If the audio-video
communication technology is used, the instructions for using that technology must be provided.
Section 39.506(4), F.S., is amended to require each party at an arraignment hearing to provide
the court with a permanent mailing address. This subsection is amended to require each party to
also provide a primary e-mail address. However, the court may, for good cause shown, excuse a
person from providing a primary e-mail address if he or she is incarcerated and not represented
by an attorney.
Section 6 – Section 39.521, F.S. – Disposition Hearings and Powers of Disposition
A disposition hearing is a hearing in which the court determines which protection services are
the most appropriate for a child as well as placement of the child in dependency cases.
19
The
court must include in its written order of disposition several findings, including the date, time,
and location of the next scheduled review hearing. The statute is amended to provide that if the
next hearing is conducted by the use of audio-video communications technology, instructions for
an appearance must accompany the written order of disposition.
Section 7 – Section 39.801(3), F.S. - Termination of Parental Rights; Notice and Service of
Notice
Before a court may terminate parental rights, notice of the date, time, and place of the advisory
hearing must be served upon certain persons listed in the statute, including the parents and legal
custodians of the child. The statute is amended to state that, if it is applicable, instructions for
appearance through audio-video communications technology, must also be included.
Additionally, the statute is amended to permit a party to consent to service or notice by e-mail by
providing a primary e-mail address to the clerk of the court. If a person served with notice fails
to appear at the advisory hearing, either physically or, at the discretion of the court, through
audio-video communications technology, that failure to appear constitutes consent for
termination of parental rights. If the court permits an appearance through the use of audio-video
communication technology, instructions for that appearance must be included.
The existing references in the statute to someone “personally” appearing are removed and new
language is supplied authorizing physical appearance or an appearance through audio-video
communication technology.
19
Section 39.01(24), F.S. BILL: SB 1440 Page 8
Section 8 – Section 92.54, F.S. – Victim and Witness Testimony Taken Outside a
Courtroom and Shown by Closed-Circuit Television
Section 92.54, F.S., authorizes a court to order the testimony of a victim or witness under the age
of 18, or who has an intellectual disability, to be taken outside of the courtroom and shown by
closed-circuit television. The statute is amended to also permit the testimony to be shown by
means of audio-video communication technology.
Section 9 – Section 985.319, F.S., Process and Service
Chapter 985, F.S., contains the laws governing juvenile justice. Proceedings that seeks to find
that a child has committed a delinquent act or violated a law are initiated by the filing of a
petition for delinquency by the state attorney. After the petition is filed, the clerk’s office issues a
summons that requires the person served to appear for a hearing at a certain time and place. This
statute is amended to permit the hearing to be held through the use of audio-video
communication technology. If the hearing is held using that technology, the summons must
provide instructions on how to attend the hearing.
The bill takes effect upon becoming a law.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None. BILL: SB 1440 Page 9
B. Private Sector Impact:
By allowing individuals to appear remotely through the use of audio-video equipment,
there could be a significant savings to people who would otherwise need to take time
away from their jobs to appear in court.
C. Government Sector Impact:
According to the Office of the State Courts Administrator, the effect on the judicial
workload will not be significant because the courts already allow appearances using
audio-video communication technology. The actual effect on the court system workload
will depend on how many courts ultimately use this technology to allow court
appearances, but that effect is not currently known.
20
Because the data needed to quantify the increase in the workload is not available, the
fiscal impact of this legislation cannot be accurately determined.
21
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends sections 39.013, 39.0131, 39.402, 39.502, 39.506, 39.521, 39.801,
92.54, and 985.319 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
20
Office of the State Courts Administrator, Senate Bill 1440 Judicial Impact Statement (March 14, 2023)
http://abar.laspbs.state.fl.us/ABAR/Document.aspx?id=31409&yr=2023 (on file with the Senate Committee on Judiciary).
21
Id.